Correlation of relative numbers of human osteoblast-like Saos-2 and MG-63 cells, i.e. <i>N^rel(Saos 2)</i> (a), <i>N^rel(MG 63)</i> (b), mean surface roughness <i>R_a</i> (1 and 10 µm cut off) (c) and zeta (<i>ς</i>-) potential (d) with the relative concentration of oxygen <i>Δc(O)</i> on the surface of Ti, Nb and TiNb samples treated at 165°C or 600°C.

<p>Experiments on day 1 and day 3 are graphically distinguished. Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M. from 32 measurements (cell number) or 2 measurements (ζ- potential) for each experimental group and time interval.</p

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images (1×1 µm) of metallic samples treated at 165°C or 600°C, namely <i>Ti165</i> (A), <i>TiNb165</i> (B), <i>Ti600</i> (C), <i>TiNb600</i> (D), and <i>Nb165</i> (E).

<p>Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images (1×1 µm) of metallic samples treated at 165°C or 600°C, namely <i>Ti165</i> (A), <i>TiNb165</i> (B), <i>Ti600</i> (C), <i>TiNb600</i> (D), and <i>Nb165</i> (E).</p

Correlation of the expression of specific genes of MG-63 cells (full symbols) and Saos-2 cells (open symbols) with the relative concentration of oxygen <i>Δc(O)</i> on the surface of Ti, Nb and TiNb samples treated at 165°C (blue) or 600°C.

<p>Mean ± S.D. from 2 measurements for each experimental group.</p

Immunofluorescence staining of vinculin (green) and beta-actin (red) in Saos-2 cells (A–D) and MG-63 cells (E-H) on day 3 after seeding on metallic samples treated at 165°C, i.e. <i>Ti165</i> (A, E), <i>TiNb165</i> (B, F) and <i>Nb165</i> (C, G), and a microscopic glass coverslip (D, H).

<p>Arrows indicate vinculin-containing focal adhesion plaques. Leica SP2 confocal microscope, Germany. Bar  = 30 µm.</p

Correlation of the expression of specific genes of MG-63 and Saos-2 cells on Ti, Nb and TiNb samples of the High Temperature (HT, 600°C) and the Low Temperature (LT, 165°C) series with mean surface roughness (<i>R_a</i>) values estimated at 1 µm (a) and 10 µm (b) cut off.

<p>Mean ± S.D. from 2 measurements for each experimental group.</p

The relative values of cell numbers, i.e. <b><i>N^rel(x)</i></b>(<b><i>x</i></b> = <b><i>Saos-2</i></b>, <b><i>MG-63</i></b>), measured on days 1 and 3 after seeding of Saos-2 or MG-63 cells on Ti, Nb and TiNb samples treated at 165°C or 600°C.

a<p>numbers in bracket: day 3 after seeding the cells. Mean ± S.E.M. from 32 measurements for each experimental group and time interval. ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls Method. Statistical significance: p≤0.05 compared to the value on reference Ti or Nb samples treated at a corresponding temperature (<b>^{Ti, Nb}</b>), on corresponding LT samples (<b>¹⁶⁵</b>), and on polystyrene dishes (<b>^PS</b>).</p

Oligonucleotide primers for q-PCR amplifications.

<p>Oligonucleotide primers for q-PCR amplifications.</p

Amount of TNF-α in the culture medium (pg/million cells) produced by cells cultivated on Ti, Nb and TiNb modified at 165°C or 600°C, or treated by various concentrations of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

<p>Mean ± S.E.M. from 4 measurements for each experimental group (on day 7 after seeding). ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls Method. Asterisks indicate experimental groups significantly differing (p≤0.05) in TNF-α production from heat-treated metallic samples.</p

Raman spectra of anatase (a) and metallic samples treated at 165°C, referred to as <i>Ti165</i> (b) <i>TiNb165</i> (c) and <i>Nb165</i> (d).

<p>Raman spectra of anatase (a) and metallic samples treated at 165°C, referred to as <i>Ti165</i> (b) <i>TiNb165</i> (c) and <i>Nb165</i> (d).</p

Absolute values of the cell population density (cells/cm²) of Saos-2 and MG-63 cells measured on a polystyrene dish <b><i>N(PS)</i></b> in the series of experiments with samples heat-treated at 165°C and 600°C used for creation of <b><i>N^rel(x)</i></b> in Table 3.

<p>Mean ± S.E.M. from 32 measurements for each experimental group and time interval.</p